Apple TV+’s “Shrinking,” a dramedy showing a therapist, Jimmy Laird (played by Jason Segel), crossing professional boundaries following his wife’s death, has substantially diverted from its original premise. In its first season, the show contended with its therapist protagonist dealing with his grief unconventionally. However, the recent second season, launching after a 19-month break, seemed to have detached from this foundation, resulting in a less concentrated narrative.
Originally, the show’s perspective on Jimmy’s approach to his life post-grief had remained neutral. Nevertheless, season 2 seems to be unsure of its stance on Jimmy's decisions, including halting therapy for his most complex patient, which ends up creating chaotic comic situations rather than a profound therapeutic journey. The second season also sees Jimmy christening his therapy style as “Jimmy-ing”, yet hardly applying it.
In an unexpected turn of narrative, the show seems to be busy managing unrelated subplots rather than mending its core idea of therapy. Characters like Jimmy’s colleagues Paul, Gaby, and Raymond seem to be more focused on their personal predicaments rather than their professional lives.
A new plot twist features Grace (Heidi Gardner of “SNL”), a woman who commits a crime guided by Jimmy’s advice, showing a potential juncture for Jimmy’s reconciliation with his deed. However, this reconciliation never seemingly happens as Jimmy gets further immersed into his and others' personal turmoils.
The confines of therapy seem to have faded, transforming the once professional space into a cluttered gathering with unrelated storylines, manifesting in an unfocused narrative arc. Characters seemingly bumble around in an affluent Pasadena suburb, leading to a series of unexpected collisions and relationships.
In conclusion, season 2 of "Shrinking" seems to exhibit a lack of boundaries, mainly in its storytelling. With discordant stories and performances, the series that was once about the process of healing wounds seems to push towards unconventional paths, leaving viewers with an unfinished narrative of the grieving therapist. The first two episodes of "Shrinking" are now available on Apple TV+.
